Download The Roman Republic

The Roman Republic
The later years
Vocabulary 3
(Make sure to pay extra attention to these words while you are
taking notes.)
• Remember Red equals write every word!
• Legions
• Punic Wars
• Hannibal
• Gaius Marius
• Lucius Cornelius Sulla
• Spartacus
Main Idea for Your Notes
• The late republic period saw the growth of
territory and trade.
• Through wars, Rome grew beyond Italy.
• Several crises struck the republic in its later
years.
Growth of Territory and
Trade
• Rome expanded due to threats from other
cities. When the Gauls took over Rome in 410
BC, Roman officials paid them to leave.
• Because of this Rome was constantly fighting
off invaders. Rome’s army was very organized,
so defense of the city was usually successful.
Growth of Territory and
Trade
• Soldiers were divided into legions, or groups
of up to 6,000 men. Each legion was divided
into centuries, or groups of 100 soldiers.
• The army had the flexibility to fight together,
or break up into smaller groups.
Growth of Territory and
Trade
• What is the military advantage of an army with
both small units and large units?
Growth of Territory and
Trade
• Most Romans were originally farmers. Many of
them moved to the city and ran their farms
from afar with help from slaves.
• As the population of the city grew, so did the
need for more food. An extensive trading
network was established.
• Rome coined copper and silver money, which
was used widely in the region.
Growth of Territory and
Trade
• What necessity let to the expansion of trade in
ancient Rome?
Rome Grows Beyond
Italy
• Rome’s growth made both allies and enemies
in the Mediterranean. The Roman army fought
many wars, including the Punic Wars with
Carthage.
• Carthage was the capital of a Phoenician
civilization that flourished in North Africa
between 264 and 156 BC.
Rome Grows Beyond
Italy
• What body of water lay between Rome and
Carthage?
Rome Grows Beyond
Italy
• Although an attach on Rome led by the
brilliant general Hannibal nearly succeeded,
Rome eventually conquered Carthage. The
Romans then took over Gaul, Greece and parts
of Asia.
• The Romans were deeply influenced by the
Greeks and adopted much of the Greek
culture.
Crisis Strike the Republic
• As Rome’s territory grew, so did it’s problems.
Tensions between the rich and poor grew.
Some leaders tried to keep the poor citizens
happy, but their plans were not popular with
the wealthy.
• Politicians who tried to make a change and
went against Rome’s powerful leaders were
killed.
Crisis Strike the Republic
• Army general Gaius Marius encouraged the
poor and the unemployed to join the army.
• Before, only people who owned property had
been allowed in the army.
• As a result, the army became more loyal to
Marius than to the Roman government.
Crisis Strike the Republic
• Why do you think the unemployed and poor
respected Gaius Marius?
Crisis Strike the Republic
• Another man, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, raised his
own army. He fought and killed Marius and
became dictator.
• Soon afterward, Spartacus, a slave and former
gladiator, led an uprising of thousands of
slaves against the republic.
• Spartacus was eventually defeated and killed,
but these conflicts had weakened Rome.
Crisis Strike the Republic
• Why do you think Spartacus attracted such a
large following?